By Zosia Alarr
Editors note: This is the second in a series of blogs documenting activities emerging from the AHRC supported multi-year project, Grassroots Struggles, Global Visions: British Black Power, 1964-1985, led by Drs Kerry Pimblott (Manchester) and Kennetta Hammond Perry (Northwestern). Our collaboration with the African Caribbean Centre in Leicester is part of an effort to better document, preserve, and (re)present the history of Black Power and its legacies in the North West and East Midlands.
My name is Zosia Alarr, and I am a fourth-year student at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. This year, I’ve had the privilege of joining Drs Kennetta Hammond Perry and Kerry Pimblott as a research assistant for their project, Grassroots Struggles, Global Visions: British Black Power, 1964-1985 with support from Northwestern’s Buffett Institute for Global Affairs.
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to work alongside Professor Perry in Leicester, England, where she is conducting the majority of her research. It was my first time in Leicester, and I was immediately captivated by the city’s architectural beauty, warm community, and rich history. On my first day, Professor Perry and I visited the Newarke House Museum and Garden, which highlights Leicester’s diverse past. I was fascinated to learn about the city’s multicultural roots, particularly the ways in which its Asian and Afro-Caribbean populations have shaped its development. This visit marked the beginning of my week-long immersion into Leicester’s profound historical landscape.
The project focuses on how Black Power manifested in England during the 20th century, with particular attention to the East Midlands and Manchester. It centers the voices of local historians, archives, and community centers as vital sources of knowledge about Black Power in Britain. One of Professor Perry’s objectives was to compile an oral history of Black life in Leicester from the mid-to-late 20th century. To achieve this, we collaborated with the African Caribbean Centre, a community hub that has served the local population for over 40 years.
During my first visit to the Centre, I was struck by its intergenerational diversity. Elders who had been involved since its founding mingled with high school students attending after-school programs, and even young children participating in dance and music classes. It was clear that the Centre continues to play a vital role in the Afro-Caribbean community, providing not only social services but also a vibrant cultural space.
In the days that followed, we visited the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland to research materials related to racial dynamics and movements of the 1960s and 1970s. This was my first time working in an archive, and I jokingly remarked to Professor Perry that we felt like detectives, searching for historical clues. We found rich documentation on how Black life and politics were publicly recognized in newspapers and discussed in town hall meetings. One of the most rewarding moments was reading about two founding members of the African Caribbean Centre, and then meeting and interviewing them the next day. It was powerful to witness how history comes alive through personal stories and to see how individuals reconcile with their past while reflecting on today’s societal dynamics.
At the end of our trip, we hosted an oral history event, where ten community members who had grown up or moved to Leicester by the mid-1960s shared their experiences of being Afro-Caribbean in the city. It was fascinating to watch these individuals, who had known each other for decades, reminisce about their shared history, each offering their own interpretations of how their community evolved over time.
Since returning to the U.S., I have spent time reflecting on my experience in England and the broader implications of the project. I am deeply inspired by the resilience of the Afro-Caribbean community in Leicester. It is rare for affinity spaces to survive, let alone thrive, for over 40 years. Despite numerous challenges, the community has continually come together to protect the Centre, recognizing its crucial role in supporting and mobilizing their efforts. This commitment to maintaining community spaces is something I feel we often overlook in the U.S.
I’ve also reflected on the broader experiences of Black diasporic communities. Just a month before my journey to England, I conducted research on Afro identities in Colombia. Both experiences offered me valuable insight into the global African diaspora. What stood out to me was the shared journey of resilience and resistance, as each community fought tirelessly for freedom and justice. Yet, despite their struggles, I saw joy, laughter, and love in each place I visited—a testament to the power of community in sustaining hope and spirit in the face of oppression.
We are part of a vast global community that has fought for centuries for the right to be seen as fully human, while preserving its soul and spirit. This realization continually reminds me to lead with grace and pride in all that I do.
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